> According to the Chinese calendar, 2020 marks the year of the rat. They use an animal zodiac with a 12-year cycle, so previous “rat” years are 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008. Their zodiac says that people born during the year of the rat are liked by all because they are positive, cheerful and kind. On the downside, they’re stubborn, big spenders, and not always great communicators. # > So, what are “metal” rats? People born during a “rat” year who are also born during the year of metal. Chinese astrology also uses a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems. Each of the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of wood, fire, metal, earth and water—2020 falls on a “metal” year. The elements are changed every two years.